# US 10,119,313 B2 · Tailgate lock system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,313 B2 - Document ID: US10119313B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/008,044 - Filed: 2016-01-27 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-30 - Assignees: McGard, Inc. - Applicants: McGard LLC - Inventors: Nicholas J. Higgins; Raymond A. Murray; David C. Meyer; Andrew D. Trank - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119313B2 ## CPC - E05D 11/0018: {Anti-tamper devices} - E05Y 2900/516: for trucks or trailers - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - E05Y 2900/548: Trunk lids - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A tailgate lock system comprising a security lock for a tailgate hinge assembly, wherein the tailgate hinge assembly comprises a fixed cup portion and a rotating portion arranged to rotate about a hinge axis relative to the fixed cup portion, an adapter configured to extend between the security lock and the tailgate hinge assembly, the adapter having an inside surface having a first portion configured to engage the rotating portion of the hinge assembly and a second portion configured to radially overlap the fixed cup portion of the hinge assembly, whereby selective rotation about the hinge axis causes rotation of the adapter and the security lock about the hinge axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tailgate lock system comprising: a security lock for a tailgate hinge assembly, wherein said tailgate hinge assembly comprises a fixed cup portion and a rotating portion configured and arranged to rotate about a hinge axis relative to said fixed cup portion; an adapter configured and arranged to extend between said security lock and said tailgate hinge assembly; said adapter having an inside surface and an outside surface; said outside surface of said adapter configured to engage said security lock such that rotation of said adapter about said hinge axis causes rotation of said security lock about said hinge axis; said inside surface of said adapter having a first portion configured to engage said rotating portion of said hinge assembly such that rotation of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly about said hinge axis causes rotation of said adapter about said hinge axis; and said inside surface of said adapter having a second portion configured to radially overlap said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly; whereby selective rotation of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly about said hinge axis causes rotation of said adapter and said security lock about said hinge axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly comprises an outer surface having a taper relative to said hinge axis and said second portion of said inside surface of said adapter comprises a taper relative to said hinge axis corresponding to said taper of said outer surface of said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said rotating portion of said hinge assembly comprises an outer surface substantially parallel to said hinge axis and said first portion of said inside surface of said adapter is substantially parallel to said hinge axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said outer surface said rotating portion of said hinge assembly comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface and said first portion of said inside surface of said adapter comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface configured to engage said first flat surface and said second flat surface of said outer surface of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said adapter comprises an adapter hinge receiving slot extending longitudinally relative to said hinge axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tailgate lock system of claim 5, wherein said rotating portion of said hinge assembly has a rotatable cup width about said hinge axis and said adapter hinge receiving slot in said adapter has an adapter slot width greater than said rotatable cup width of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tailgate lock system of claim 6, wherein said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly comprises a fixed hinge receiving slot extending longitudinally relative to said hinge axis and said fixed hinge receiving slot of said fixed cup portion has a fixed cup slot width greater than said rotatable cup width of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said rotating portion of said hinge assembly comprises a shaft member and an inner rotatable cup configured and arranged to receive said shaft member, whereby selective rotation of said inner rotatable cup about said hinge axis causes rotation of said shaft member about said hinge axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tailgate lock system of claim 8, wherein said inner rotatable cup of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly comprises a shaft receiving slot extending longitudinally relative to said hinge axis, said shaft member of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly has a shaft width about said hinge axis, and said shaft receiving slot in said inner rotatable cup has a rotatable cup slot width greater than said shaft width of said shaft member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tailgate lock system of claim 9, wherein said adapter comprises an adapter hinge receiving slot extending longitudinally relative to said hinge axis, said inner rotatable cup of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly has a rotatable cup width about said hinge axis, and said adapter hinge receiving slot in said adapter has an adapter slot width greater than said rotatable cup width of said inner rotatable cup of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tailgate lock system of claim 10, wherein said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly comprises a fixed hinge receiving slot extending longitudinally relative to said hinge axis and said fixed hinge receiving slot of said fixed cup portion has a fixed cup slot width greater than said rotatable cup width of said inner rotatable cup of said rotating portion of said hinge assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said security lock comprises a lock housing and an adjustable clamp band and said adapter is configured and arranged to extend between said clamp band and said tailgate hinge assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tailgate lock system of claim 12, wherein said adjustable clamp band is configured and arranged to apply an inwardly-directed radial clamping force relative to said hinge axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tailgate lock system of claim 1, wherein said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly comprises a fixed hinge receiving slot and said security lock is configured and arranged to circumferentially span said fixed hinge receiving slot of said fixed cup portion of said hinge assembly.